Sholicola major
The Nilgiri Blue Robin (Sholicola major) is a strikingly secretive passerine, measuring approximately 16-17 cm in length, characterized by its deep, glossy blue-black upperparts that give it its 'blue robin' moniker. Males exhibit dark greyish underparts transitioning to a distinctive rust-orange on the lower flanks and vent, a crucial field mark differentiating it from similar species. Females share a similar pattern but are generally duller and browner overall, displaying minimal sexual dim...
Exclusively inhabits the dense undergrowth and leaf litter of high-altitude montane evergreen 'shola' forests, interspersed with grasslands, typically found between 1,200 and 2,400 meters elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of invertebrates such as beetles, ants, grubs, and other small arthropods, gleaned from the forest floor.
This highly secretive robin is primarily crepuscular, most active during dawn and dusk, though it can forage throughout the day, usually keeping to the darkest, densest parts of the undergrowth. It is a ground gleaner, hopping agilely through leaf litter, often fanning and cocking its tail while ...
The Nilgiri Blue Robin is strictly endemic to the isolated high-altitude montane evergreen 'shola' forests of the Western Ghats mountain range in Southern India. Its distribution is highly fragmented, with distinct populations occurring in the Nilgiri Hills, Palani Hills, Anamalai Hills, and High...
Vulnerable
- The Nilgiri Blue Robin is one of only three species in the genus *Sholicola*, all endemic to the Western Ghats of India. - It was only recently (in 2017) recognized as a distinct species and reclassified into its own genus, *Sholicola*, following molecular studies. - Despite its name, genetic a...